Motor vehicle of the endless tread type



July 8, 1947.

' R. D. ACTON MOTOR VEHICLE OF THE ENDLES$ TREAD TYPE Filed Aug. 27,1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1947- R. D. ACTON MOTOR VEHICLE OF THE ENDLESSTREAD TYPE Filed Aug. 27, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR M MW NWE y1947- R. D. ACTON MOTOR VEHICLE OF THE ENDLESS TREAD TYPE 4 4Shets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 27, 1945 a 1. Ni

ll r i a H g mm W I I W M I H y 1947- R. D. AcT'oN 2,423,544"

MOTOR VEHICLE THE ENDLESS TREAD TYPE Filed Aug. 27, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet4 INVENTOR.

Patented July 8, 1947 UNITED STATES Areal OFFI E MOTGR VEHICLE OF THEENDLESS ,TREAD TYPE Claims.

The invention described therein, if patented, may be manufactured andused by or for the Government for governmental purposes withoutlpaymentto me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to automotive vehicles and moreespeciallytovehicles of a character particularly adapted for travel over terrainsnow, ice orthelike,

The invention comprehends the provision .of a vehicle incorporating .anendless belt type of traction means of a character presentingacornparatively large area in contact with the supporting surfacetraversed by the vehicle.

The invention is inclusive of a vehicle arrangement whereby the same maybe readily adapted either for travel on highways or onsnow and ice or thlike.

The invention embraces ,a vehicle embodying a flexible endless belt typeof traction arrangement in combination with means for maintaining thetraction arrangement in proper relation with ,respect to the vehicleframe when the vehicle ,is traveling over uneven surfaces.

An object of the invention residesin the provision of a linkagearrangement formaintaining the traction means at one side of the vehiclein proper relationship with respect to the traction means arranged atthe opposite side of the vehicle irrespective of the unevenness orirregularities of the surface over which the vehicle is traveling.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a vehicle having aflexible belt type traction arrangement so constructed and arranged ateach side of the vehiclean inter-connected by means which permits eachtraction unit freedom of vertical movement independently of the othertraction unit.

Still another object resides in the provision of means embodied in avehicle of thecharacter utilizing a flexible belt traction means foradjusting or controlling a traction guiding means so as to facilitatetravel of the vehicle over snow covered terrain.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this inventionsuch as relate to the arrangement,.operation and function of the relatedelements of the structure, to various details of construction and tocombinations of parts, elementsper se, and to economies of manufactureand numerous other features as Will be apparent from a consideration ofthe specification and drawi s of a form of the invention, which may bepreferred, in which:

Figure 1 is a side-elevational view of a vehicle of my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing .a tractionmeans and supporting larrangement therefore forming a partcf my in-Vention;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially on the line5-5 of FigureZ;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on'thelineE-B of Figure 3;

Figure '7 is a plan view showing a-portion ofthe traction means andFigure 8 is a sectional viewtaken substantially onthe line 88 of Figure7.

While I have illustrated a form of my invention as embodied in a vehicleespecially-adapted for traversing snow or ice covered terrain, and whichis readily convertible -for use on highways, it is to be understod thatI contemplate .the use of my invention with any type of vehicle whereinthe samemay befound to have utility.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the vehicle embodying m inventionincorporates ,an elongated frame structure which is inclusive vof a pairof spaced channel shaped members .10 and l I suitably reinforced bymeans of a second pair of channel shapedmembers l2 and i3 in nestedrelationship therewith, eachset of nested members having theirjuxtaposedportions ,weldedror riveted together, forming parallel;box;like :sections as particularlyshown inFigures 4 ;and Theseframesections are joinedtogether bycross members It. The frame:formsasupbort for the truck-like body 15 and the ipassengerhcarryingbody portion 16 as illustratedin :Figure ,1. :The body portion 16 isformed with .a forwardly-extending hoo-dstructure I?! which encloses.an;.engine (not shown) or .other suitable source of power.The'vehicle operatorls compartment is enclosed by a suitable top ll9,the forward-portion of which is connected to the upper extremity of awindshield 20, the frame supporting the latter bei-ng pivotallyconnected as at 2| -to the cowl portion of the body. The operatorscompartment is provided with the vehicle controlsincluding steeringpost--22, steering wheel-23 of conventional construction, a variablespeed transmission controlling means 25 and a throttle actuatingr.od:25.

The front wheelsfZ-l are. carriedin conventional manner upon an axle(not-shown) connected to leaf springs 28 which in turn are carried-by.the frame members it and H. Asthe'vehicleembodying my invention isespecially constructed for traveling over snow and ice, there is 7provided adjacent the front wheels of the vehicle apair of skids to,each skid being arran ed adjacent a wheel 2? and connected to'thelsteering mechanism by means of a bracket 3i .and ,achain Thebrackets 13 l .7 are arranged to be actuated by the steering wheel ,23sothattheskidsflil maybe turned or are vdirigibly arranged sothatthe-vemeans.

that the skids 30 may be removed, permitting the 7 front wheels tosupport the forward portion of the vehicle in the conventional manner sothat the latter may travel on highway and the like.

Extending transversely of the frame construction is a tubular member 35having a raised central portion to which is welded the struts orbrackets 36 and 3?, the extremities of the brackets being welded andriveted to the frame members It and I i as shown in Figure 3. Theextremities of the tubular member 35 extend laterally beneath the sideframe members it and l i and are welded or otherwise fixedly secured tobrackets 38 carried by and depending from the frar e members it and H.Mounted upon the projecting extremities of tube 35 are sets of plates,each set comprising spaced plates as The plates 39 and it of each setare welded or other-- wise fixedly secured to the tube As shown inFigure 2, the plates 3% and it of each set are provided with alinedopenings through which extend pivot pins 53 and M. Positioned betweeneach of the plates 39 and it is a sprin seat or bracket &6 which ispivotally supported upon the pivot pin 43. Each bracket 28 supports a,multi-leaf spring 41 secured thereto by means of U-shaped clamps 48.Arranged below the extremities of tube 35 and positioned between theplates 39 and id is a spring seat or bracket 58 pivotally supported uponpivot pins M. Each of the brackets 53 supports a second leaf sprin 52secured thereto by means of U-shaped clamps 53. It should be noted thateach of the leaf spring constructions ill and 52 arranged at each sideof the vehicle are adapted for pivotal movement about the pivot pins 13and 44.

The rear extremities of each pair of springs ii and 52 are pivotallyjointed to brackets or connectors 55, the latter being fabricated in twosections fixedly secured to the rear axle housing 58 by means of bolts57 or other suitable securing The axle housing 55 encloses live axles(not shown) which are driven through a differential mechanism containedwithin a, housing 58 from a propeller shaft 59 connected to the engine(not shown) enclosed by the hood ii. The differential housing 58 isconnected to one of the transversely extending frame members it by meansof a bar or link 6! for the purpose of maintaining the properrelationship between the differential housing and the vehicle frame. Thedriven axles contained within the housings 56 are operatively connectedto driving wheels 60 for actuating the endless belt traction means ashereinafter described.

The forwardly extending extremities of each of the sets of springs 41and 52 are pivotally connected to members 63 arranged at each side ofthe vehicle. Each of the members 63 is provided with a laterallyextending spindle S l upon which is journaled a Walking beam or member$5. The rearwardly extending extremity of each of the walking beams 65is provided with a laterally projecting spindle or stub shaft 6'! uponwhich is journaled a guide or idler wheel 68. The forwardly extendingextremity of each of the walking beams 65 supports a bracket it. Each ofthe brackets 10 is provided with a bolt H pivotally supporting adepending arm 12 carrying at its lower end a. laterally projectingspindle or stub shaft 13 upon which is journaled a wheel it. As will beseen from Figure 2 there is arranged at each side of arm 72 adjustingscrews E5 and l5 which are threaded into openings in bracket 10, theends of the screws contacting an intermediate portion i? of the arm l2.By manipulation of screws 15 and it, the arm i2 may be oscillated oradjusted about the axis of the bolt 1 i.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, each cleat is of generally rectangularconfiguration and secured thereto by means of rivets 18 are spaced guidemembers it. The cleats 8! are provided with openings to receive bolts 82which secure clevises 83 thereto and guide members is are formed withportions 83 having openings to accommodate the bolts 82. Each adjacentpair of clevises 83 are joined together by a chain link 85. In thismanner the treads or cleats are articulately connected together forminga flexible traction means suitabl for traversing irregular terrain andof a character presenting a large traction surface. In a vehicle of thecharacter illustrated wherein the forward portion is supported'by meansindependent of the belt type traction means the latter is referred to asa half track or half track traction means. The cleats or plates 8! areprovided with central openings defined by flanges 86, the flangesadapted to grip the snow or other supporting surface, the openingsforming a means to prevent snow and ice from accumulating betweenthe'lugs and the supporting wheels. Each driving wheel 88 is providedwith a pneumatic tire 9b which is molded With suitable projections ti onits periphery serving as teeth to engage between the guiding members 19to drive the traction means 80. Each of the guide or idler wheels 68 andit are provided with pneumatic tires which engage the inside of thetraction means to hold the latter in proper relation to the surface overwhich the vehicle is traveling. As illustrated, the tires on wheels 68and M are not provided with driving projections as they simply functionto maintain and guide the traction means in proper position.

A vehicle of the character described may en-. counter exceedingly roughor irregular snow or ice covered terrain and in order to functionsatisfactorily, the traction means on one side of the vehicle isarranged for vertical movement independently of the traction meanson theopposite side of the vehicle. The present invention incorporates meansto position the idler wheels in proper relation to the frame of thevehicle and to the drive wheels in orderto maintain the endless belttraction means in proper position for functioning irrespective of theirregularity of the supporting surface. To this end the members G3 arejoined together so that each will be maintained in a proper verticalposition during independent vertical movement of the other. This meansconsists of a" pair of parallel bars or links and 96 which are pivotallyjoinedto members by means of shafts Or pins 9'! and 9t. ,Inorder thatthe walking beams (55 are maintained in proper relation during relativevertical movements thereof, connection is made between one of the beamsand the frame of the vehicle. This arrangement is inclusive of a channelshaped member 99 welded or otherwise secured to one of the walking beams55. Depending from frame member I i is a channel shaped member Hillwhich is welded to frame member 1!, The channel shaped members 99 and500 are joined together by means of a pair of parallel links or rodslfii and H32 which are respectively connected. to the channel shapedmembers by means of pins Hi3 and 584. Thus, through the double linkarrangements, the walking beams 65 will at all *times "be maintainedv.in proper relationship with respect to the vehicle frame. :Ineventthatone of the walking beams 65 and its [supporting bracket63 are movedupwardly, the other walking beam will be maintained in proper parallelrelationshipwith respect to it through the connection of rods '95 and'96arrangedbetween the members '63.

In order to lend :stability to the walkingbeam construction, thebrackets l0 adjacent the .for- .ward .extermities of each .of thewalking-beams 65 are pivotally connected together by means of airod I91:being pivotal-1y joined 'to the brackets by means of the bolts "I08 andI09, the-latter being.preferably embedded in rubber or.other yieldablematerial (not shown).

=In-a vehic1e of this character it hasbeen found desirable to provide"means for regulating .or ;adjusting the position of the idler wheelsgoverning and guiding the traction means over snow. For this purposemeans is provided to regulate or vary the eifectivedownward pressure ofthe idler wheels with respect vto the vehicle frame so that the depththat they may sink into snow may be controlled by the vehicle operator.Extending transversely of the frame members I0 and II is a tubularmember I I3 carried at its ends in sheet metal brackets II4 flanged asat II5, the latter being welded or riveted to the main frame member. Thetube I I3 is welded to the brackets I I4. Extending parallel with tube II3 is a shaft or rod II6 which is mounted in bearings II'I supportedupon the sheet metal brackets II 4. The shaft IIB projects outwardlybeyond the bearings II! and secured to the projecting extremities arethe arms II8.

The ends'of the arms II 8 are pivotally connected to links I I9, thelatter being pivotally connected by pins I to projections I2I integrallyformed on the members 63. Welded to the tube i I3 is a pair of sheetmetal brackets I22 which support bearings I23 serving to support thecentral portion of shaft I I6. Arranged between bearings I23 and securedto shaft H6 is a forwardly extending arm I24. The projecting end of armI24 is formed with an opening to receive a tenon I25 formed on a nutI26, the latter being threaded upon a threaded portion I21 of avertically positioned rod I28. The tenon I25 is threaded to receive anut I31 for retaining the end of the arm I24 upon the tenon. The rod orshaft I28 is formed at its lower end with a tenon I29 passing through anopening in a stub shaft I30, the latter being carried in a bracket I3Iwelded or otherwise secured to a transversely extending tube I32 whichis Welded to brackets I33, the latter being riveted or otherwise securedto frame members I0, II, I2, I3. The tenon portion I29 of shaft I28 isprovided with washers I34 positioned above and below the stub shaft Iwhich serve to maintain and support shaft I28 permitting rotation butrestraining vertical movement thereof. A nut I35 is threaded uponthetenon I29 to secure the shaft I28 and washers I34 in proper positionwith respect to the supporting bracket I31. The upper extremity of shaftI28 is formed with a non-circular portion adapted to receive amanipulating crank I38 for the purpose of imparting rotation to shaftI28.

When it is desired to relieve the pressure upon the forward portions ofthe traction means, the operator rotates crank I36 to move shaft I28 ina clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3, which rotation threads thenut I26 downwardly upon the shaft I28 causing counter clockwise move- .6mentofarm I24'and shaft H5. This rotation of shaft 'I*I.6 causes counterclockwise rotation of arms I10 exerting an upward force upon the members'53 through 'the link connections -I I9. This action increases theupward pressure upon the'forward portions of leaf springs 41 and 52 andcorrespondingly decreases the downwardly acting forceof the idler whels63and :14 so that the pressure on theforward portion of the tractionmeans is decreased and'willnot, therefore, penetrate intosnow as great adistance as it would otherwise do if movement of members :63 were notrestrained through the manipulation of shaft I 2-9 and associatedmechanism.

In order to limit the independent downward movementofeach-set of idlerwheels, -I have provided a. U shaped member 140 which extends below therod IN, the upper portion of the member M9 being fixedly secured to thebrackets Ills. Thus, if one set of idler wheels moves over adepression,causing them to fall a considerable distance, the amount of the fallwill be limited by engagement of the bight portion of member I40engaging the rod I01.

In the operation of the vehicle embodying my invention it-shc-uld 'benoted that the drive wheels 50 actuate the traction means, thelatterbeing suitably guided into engagement with a :supporting surface.under the'infiuence of thesets of idler wheels 68 and E4. Through thelinkage arrangement as hereinbefore described connecting the members 63,Walking beams 65 and the linkage connecting one of the walking beams tothe frame structure, the idler wheels are capable of independentvertical movement in respect to the frame to permit the traction. meansto pass over obstructions and depressions in the terrain or supportingsurface yet at all times maintaining the traction means in alinementwith the driving wheels of such nature that the traction means will beretained in proper operative engagement with the driving wheels 60 andthe forwardly positioned idler wheels I4.

The specific stabilizing structure for the walking beams 55 includingthe stabilizing links IOI and I02 and their association with the members99 and I is not a part of this invention, such structure being shown andclaimed in the Roos Patent 2,367,434, January 16, 1945.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modificationsand different arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed,and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the inventioncomprehending all variations thereof.

What I claim is:

1. An automotive vehicle including a frame, a spring arranged at eachside of said frame and carried thereby, means including an axle housingconnecting the rearward ends of said springs, axles revolvably mountedin said housing; driving wheels carried by said axles; a walking beamarranged at each side of said frame and carried by the forwardextremities of said springs; each of said walking beams supporting apair of wheels journaled for rotation thereon, traction means associatedwith said wheels and actuated by the driving wheel, and linkageconnecting said walking beams and extending transversely of the vehicle.

2. An automotive vehicle including a frame, a walking beam disposed ateach side of said frame and arranged in parallel relationship, springsconnecting said walking beams to the frame whereby each beam may movevertically independentlyof the other; a pair of idler wheels journaledon each walking beam, a driving wheel arranged at each side of saidframe; half track traction means carried by each set of driving andidler wheels; and means including linkage pivotally connecting saidbeams together whereby the latter are maintained in parallelrelationship during vertical movements thereof.

3. An automotive vehicle including a frame, a member resiliently carriedupon said frame and arranged at each side thereof; a bar journaled uponeach member, an idler wheel journaled on each bar, a drive wheelresiliently supported upon said frame at each side thereof, a tractionmeans associated with each set of driving and idler wheels, meansincluding linkage connecting said members; and means connected to saidmembers for varying the downward acting pressure of said idler wheelsupon a supporting surface.

4. An automotive vehicle including a frame, a member resiliently carriedupon said frame and arranged at each side thereof, a bar journaled uponeach of said members; drive wheels resiliently supported upon saidframe, an idler wheel journaled on each of said bars, a traction beltassociated with each of said driving and idler wheels; means connectedto said members for varying the downwardly acting pressure of said idlerwheels; and linkage connecting said members whereby said bars aremaintained in substantial parallelism during vertical movements thereof,

5. An automotive vehicle including the frame, a pair of springs arrangedat each side of said frame and carried thereby, members pivotallyconnecting the rearward ends of each pair of springs, driving wheelsassociated with said members, a pair of members each connecting theforward ends of each pair of springs; a walking beam arranged at eachside of said frame and carried by a member connecting the forward endsof said springs each of said walking beams supporting a pair of wheelsjournaled for rotation thereon, traction means associated with saidwheels and actuated by the driving wheel, and linkage extendingtransversely of the vehicle and connecting the members arranged at theforward ends of said-springs.

RUSSEL D. ACTON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Roos Jan. 16, 1945Number

